Australia gets reduced Davis Cup penalty

The International Tennis Federation on Thursday reduced the original punishment handed to Australia for refusing to play a Davis Cup in India on security grounds.

The ITF board declined to impose tougher sanctions on Australia after India appealed a previous ruling by the world governing body's Davis Cup committee.

The board also reversed the cup committee's May decision which had ordered Australia to lose hosting rights for the next home match.

The board, which met Wednesday in Madrid, upheld a $US10,000 ($12,000) fine and additional legal costs imposed on the Australian federation, and confirmed that Chennai had been a safe choice of venue for the May 8-10 Asia/Oceania group match.

Australia forfeited the tie by refusing to go India, citing security concerns in the subcontinent. Gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus before a match in Lahore, Pakistan, in March, and 164 people were killed in terrorist attacks in Mumbai last November.

India therefore advanced to a Davis Cup world group playoff tie against South Africa, scheduled for September 18-20 in Johannesburg.

Australia's record of 28 Davis Cup titles is second only to the United States, which has 32.